Jeff City Beat: Farm work bill moving to Senate vote

Saturday

Feb 23, 2013 at 10:00 AM

A weekly look at legislative happenings in the capitol

Jason Hunsicker/@JHunsicker_KDE

A weekly report on happenings in Missouri’s state government. Aside from noting actions of locally-elected officials Rep. Nate Walker (R-003), Rep. Craig Redmon (R-004) and Sen. Brian Munzlinger (R-18), this is a summary of important bills and votes from the Missouri House and Senate.

Tracking Walker

Rep. Walker co-sponsored House Bill 640, which would require licensed firearms dealers to accept any of the following forms of identification in performing a federal background check: federal, state or local election authority identification; identification issued by a Missouri institution of higher education; a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that contains the name and address of the individual; an out-of-state identification card or driver’s license; or statements from two or more other federally licensed firearms dealers that they know the individual.

The bill was introduced a week after the House passed a bill seeking an amendment to the Missouri Constitution that would require voters present a valid photo ID to cast a ballot.

Tracking Munzlinger

Senate Bill 16, sponsored by Sen. Munzlinger, moved toward a floor vote in the last week, having been placed on the calendar for a third reading and vote on Monday.

The bill would exempt farm work by children under age 16 from certain child labor requirements.

Introduced this week: Senate

SB 337: Would ban the sale of “tobacco-derived product” and “vapor product” to individuals under age 18. This would include the sale of electronic cigarettes.

SB 342: Co-sponsored by Sen. Munzlinger, the bill would increase to $100,000 the maximum loan amount the Missouri agriculture and small business development authority can issue for livestock feed and crop input. The previous maximum had been $40,000.

SB 354: Would make it a class D felony for merchants who accept payment by credit or debit card to charge a surcharge fee to customers using those methods for payments.

SB 361: Would modify Department of Natural Resources requirements for wastewater treatment facilities. Current law states facilities must maintain a pH level within 6.5-9 standard units. The bill aims to change the required pH level to 6-9 instead.

Introduced this week: House

HB 628: Would permit a 100-percent state income tax deduction on tuition and fees paid for the last nine or 18 hours to complete an associate or bachelor degree from public two-year or four-year institutionsTo qualify for the deduction the student must be a resident of the state for at least one year prior to claiming the deduction and have not been enrolled as a full-time student for at least four consecutive calendar years before the year in which pursuit of the degree resumed.

HB 633: Sponsored by Rep. Mike Leara (R-096) would make it a class D felony for any member of the general assembly to propose a law that “further restricts” an individual’s 2nd Amendment rights. No representatives co-sponsored the bill.

HB 636: Beginning July 1, 2014, all state employees would be guaranteed a salary increase equal to the increased cost of health insurance premiums from the previous calendar year. The raises would apply only to non-elected state workers.

HB 648: Would make it illegal to sell energy drinks to individuals under age 18. Violation of this law would result in fines up to $500.

HB 661: Would require proposals by political subdivisions to increase taxes, license costs, fees or levies be placed only on ballots up for vote on general election days.

HB 670: Would increase the mandatory minimum sentence to 20 years, up from three years, for individuals convicted of armed criminal action for the first time. A second such conviction would carry a minimum sentence of 30 years, and a third conviction would carry a minimum of life in prison.

HB 677: Sponsored by Rep. Jeff Roorda (D-113) and co-sponsored by three others, the bill would make it a class D felony if a member of the general assembly proposes legislation that “further restricts” an individual’s right under the Missouri Constitution to collectively bargain.

Votes of the week

House Bill 55 passed by a 153-1 vote this week, with both Rep. Walker and Rep. Redmon voting in favor.

The bill would provide amnesty from the assessment or payment of all penalties, additions to tax, and interest on delinquencies of unpaid taxes administered by the Department of Revenue which occurred on or prior to Dec. 31, 2012. A taxpayer must apply for amnesty, pay the unpaid taxes in full from Aug. 1, 2013 to Oct. 31, 2013, and agree to comply with state tax laws for the next eight years from the date of the agreement.

If granted, the taxpayer cannot participate in future amnesty for the same tax.

The bill received its first reading in the Senate on Wednesday.

Tracking SB 13

Senate Bill 13, which would eliminate solid waste management districts and the Solid Waste Management Advisory Committee and change how grant money is awarded to cities, counties and providers of solid waste management, waste reduction, recycling or related services, has been placed on the Senate calendar to be perfected on Monday. This is one of the final steps before a floor vote.

Tracking HB 256 (and 305)

Rep. Walker’s bill extending expiration dates on certain closed records through 2016 was replaced by HB 256, an identical bill that was filed prior to 305. It passed the House two weeks ago and was referred to the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence committee on Wednesday.

Have a bill you’d like us to track? Contact us at dailyexpresseditor@gmail.com.